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Clare County Fire awarded highest H&S quality standard

richard.hook@pavpub.,com

News, 04 March 2014

Clare County Fire & Rescue Service has been awarded OHSAS 18001:2007 certification, the only auditable international standard for health and safety.

The OHSAS 18001 Occupational health and safety management systems standard was first published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) in 2007. The standard sets out a preventative and proactive approach to identifying workplace hazards and assessing and controlling risk.

Clare County Fire & Rescue Service joins Limerick County, North Tipperary and Carlow Fire Services as the only Fire Authorities in Ireland to have achieved the prestigious standard.

Highest standards of health & safetyCFO Adrian Kelly said: "Our fire and rescue staff are among the most highly trained in the country and this accreditation underlines that staff are also committed to implementing the highest standards of health and safety throughout their operations. While we were always satisfied that we were achieving the highest possible standards, securing this accreditation helps us to promote this fact to the wider public throughout County.”

The awarding of OHSAS 18001:2007 certification follows just months after Clare County Council received the overall Local Authority Award in the 22nd Annual National Safety Awards scheme, hosted by the National Irish Safety Organisation (NISO) and Northern Ireland Safety Group (NISG).

The Mayor of Clare congratulated the Fire Service for its recent success, adding that maintaining health and safety standards to the highest level is “critically important for both Fire Service personnel and the general public whom they serve.”

“I want to commend the fire-fighters and support staff of Clare County Fire & Rescue Service for their planning, organisation and hard work in providing a quality, year-round service to those who live in, work in and visit Clare,” added Cllr Joe Arkins.

The Service will be officially presented with the OHSAS 18001:2007 certification at an award ceremony next month [Apr].